Compounding and vulcanization of synthetic rubber



than that from others. from a, single live ton lot from one producer will also frequently exhibit markedly difierent rates rapid curing as in CdMPOUNDlN G AND VULOANIZATION- F SYNTHETIC RUBBER Albert A. Somerville, Carmel, N. Y'., asslgnor B. T. Vanderbilt Co. Inc., New York, N. 1., a

corporation of New York no Drawing. Application Mai-on Serial No. 52ers:

, Claims.

I My invention relates to improvements in the compounding and vulcanization or synthetic rubhers oi the type produced by copolymerization of butadiene and styrene. This type of synthetic rubber is illustrated by the product currently,

designated GR-B rubber. M present invention by comprises particularly the product of vulcanization of copolymer compounds containing added copper. subject matter claimed herein is disclosed in my prior application filed February 17, 1944, SerialNo. 522,785. r

' Variability, particularly with respect .to, rate of cure. has been one oi the characteristics of GR-S vrubber currently available involving a variety of substantial diiflculties inthe manufacture of vulcanized products from Git-8 stocks. Even though supposedly identical techniques and for-- mulations are used by several producers, such ample, exhibit a generally higher-rate of cure or cure. This variability is a serious burden upon I the production or vulcanized products and in- But difierent samples i (Cl. ecu-19) such, exceeding the amount required to form cupric sulfide with the-copper present. Sulfur combines with copper, to form cupric sulfide. in

amount about 50% by weight on the copper. The

- synthetic rubber from one producer will, for exrange of copper additions with which my new revsuits were attained approximated 0.005-1% by weight on the GR-S rubber. With additions below the lower limit, 0.005%, my new results were not regularly attained. With additions above 1%. the results began to resemble those incident to the addition of copper to natural rubber compounds. t y 4 Then I observed that alloi the compounds used in my experiments had contained a dithiocarbamate, either as an accelerator or as an activator of another accelerator. Continuing my experiments to determine the significance or this observation, I discovered that, although additions of copper improved a varietyoi compounds,

the remarkable results I hadattained were characteristic of compounds which also contained at least a small proportion of a dithiocarbamate or voives the production or substantial quantities or detective goods. Detects frequently appear, for example, in inner tube sections. adjacent valve parts and in relatively thick sections subjected to rubber heels as the result of such variability.

In studying the properties oi GRPS. stocks, 1

added measured quantities of metallic copper to a GR-B compound to determine the precise effect or copper in such compounds after I heard reports that GR-S stocks frequently failed to cure when applied as insulation in contact with copper, for example in areas oi defective tinning when'applied to tinned copper conductors as in conventional practice. Copper is rigorousl ex- ,ciuded from natural rubber compounds; copper seriously degrades vulcanized natural rubber compounds and radicallyaccelerates ageing of 1 such compounds. To my amazement, I found;

that appropriate additions of copper accelerated .the vulcanization of the GR-S stocks I used in my experiments without adversely aflecting their properties with respect to ageing. The acceleration in rate of cure was so great as to submerge the variability in rate of cure ordinarily exhibited by GR-S rubbeia,

a thiuram sulfide. Both the dithiocarbamates and the thiuram sulfides are characterized, by the I also found that better results were secured with compounds containing a thiazole accelerator, in addition to'a small proportion of a dithiocarbamate or a thiuram sulfide, than accelerators,

I also tried: the addition of copper to other types 01 synthetic rubber but my. new results seemed to be peculiar to GR-Stype synthetic rubber. These new results contradicted all my previous experience with'other rubbers.

The product of my invention is the product of vulcanization of a copolymer. of butadiene and styrene and about 0.005-1%, or better OBI-0.5%, by weight on the copolymer of copper, sulfur in conventional amount but exceeding as a minimum about by weight on the copper as cop- .per, and about 0.1-1%"by weight on the com!!- mer of a dithiocarbamate or a thiuramfsulnde.

when! attempted to reconcile these results with the reports which provoked my experiments, I found that the GR-S compounds which exhib. ited such curing failures were so-calledsulfurless stocks. Continuing my experiments, with'this clue, I found that mynew results 'werejobtainedwith appropriate additions of copper; as such or "an appropriate compound. in compounds-oi 63-5 rubber containing; an-amountoisultun-as The compound vulcanized to produce the product of my invention may also include, with advantage, about 05-25% by weight. on the copolymer I of a thiazole accelerator.

The following examples will illustrate practices embodying my invention and include comparisons indicating some oi'its advantages. In

"the tabulations of these compounds, cures and physical properties, the compound of each exampic was made 'up of the number of parts by weight indicated opposite each designated component, thecureswere in a platenpress tor the y with other i periods indicated in minutes at left under the curing temperature, an of the cures in e group being effected at the same temperature, and, fer

foregoing mplee I to IV illustrate the results of my first expeents with copper in GR-S rubber.

The oopper used was elecerolytio 1n; oi? the physical properties perticm lerly for the m and 15 minute cures.

each period of cure, the values for stresset 3@fl% copper w :w e 300 mesh per inch, screen. The elongation. in pounds per square inch appear acoelex'etwn in rete of cure will be apparent from under S, fortensile strength in muscle seer a :,--.==1=

square inch under T, for percentage eloneetiou m e H wmmm mm mzfiomnzu mufi W m E X m v d E m. mfiflu m T mmmmm m E a m U MN m. m m 1 1. T mw m a m n m u m mumm E s e d h 55 25 m m E m m m m T N m m w mu T m m s mmm h 8 m m E mmmm i .w L w m a m m m u m w mmmmw m m u .T E me x e m s m u mmmmm m e m v m E L m w de. T mmwmw e x m M22. T m E S ewe Ex 8 U m m m m m m m e. M W em e F We w w w wem w m mwm mam we m w e m new n ualm m m b m Mm mmwm m z e .mmm u m muuuu e cmmmcw m e? m mmmm R h memo m h mh BMW cmmosnzr 3 GPZOSBZP ammmw The fios'eg mples V to l illustrate theefiect of variations in .the amount of added at break under E, and for Shore under H mwem m n mmmm mmmm m mfifimnafl w-1 T w w m E o s mmm n mmwu m mmmw n n. wiw m um o 1 .T m. E

. e mmmm w a 3% m mmuu w w e mmmw mmmw p w w w. mm A m T meme mew E 00 u s mmmm s m e m n ewe em M E mmmm M mmwm m mine. 5. T um ee 8 m m M e we m m um m m m m nn muw n "m m e. F m T m uflmmm W n I b w m m a 3 e mm: m m me m mmmm 6 m 8 m m m n m mm m m mwmm med asbyanlm otsulnde.

lx smsilo Exim ple .Exam

was.

were secured with the addition of copper in amounts ranging from about 0.005% toabout 1% trate the advantage or thorough dispersion or the copper. Dispersion may b accomplished by using finely divided copper, as in Examples II-IV,

. H asses-.5

s'rnsrns"ra on the GR-B rubber. 'I have secured optimum 5 II-m and xv usmg 1 compounds soluble or partially soluble in the rubber or by 7 results with the addition or copper in amounts using copper compounds premsprsed m or upon ranging II'Qm about about 0n the some compounding material For GR-S rubber. It will be noted that the sulfur example, copper compounds may be dispersed exceeds by weight-on thecopper in each oi 10 upon inert fillers or they may be dissolved or disthe foregoing examples other than the blank, versed in plasticizers such as mineral oils, coal Exampl v" and the example 5 parts coptar fractions, and esters Such as per vNamathmam: the excess of used in In generaL-the copper addition may be made to the copoiymer of butadiene and styrene. before Example the r-emm are WWW? with 15 or during compounding or it may be made to any as much as 3 parts of copper. I haveexamined a v compounding material with which it iscompatible W vulmtes o Examples m and thus incorporated in the synthetic rubber XI and XII under a microscope at m sniflca-' compound with t modified compounding m time and these appear, thus examined, tocontain terial.

I nm'n iexvn Example xvm Example Example xx hampe 5 5 5 5 5 s s s s s 8mm: 1 2. 2 2 '2 21'. diofli y a 5 hornets. .15 .15 .16 .15 .15 .oopper a wdo'r (through mesh)-... .10

pumlflde i .15 sss W I w Mme. .I r 'I'fv'i'f" r: s 'r n m 41s 1100 m 400 was mo .400 415 17!) 2425 $5 875 192) 2130 315 so mo use an x 10s 1500 pt 15% .110 105 1570 1460 115 1570 115 1520 M 115 Hill ..15a012o ..1s2o14o -.14s0 12s dispersed particles of opper w h s rfaces dark: The foregoing Examples xvn to m illustrate 50 the effectiveness of a variety of copper compounds. The amounts of the several compounds used in Examples XIX; x and XXI are suchthat the copper,'measured ascopper, present approximates that in Example XVIII. The copper compounds I have tried which produce comparable results, interms oi' the amount of copper measured as copper thus added to the GR-S' I rubber, include copper sulfide, cuprous foxide,

anhydrous coppersulfate, 'coppersulfate with.-

waier of crystallization, copper carbonate, copper nitrate, copper acetate, cuprous chloride, cupric chloride, cuprous mercaptobenzothiazoie,

cupric mercaptobenzothiazole, copper oleate and i '5 copper stearate. In fact the only copper compound I have tried which failed to give my new results, used in appropriate amounts correspondlug to their equivalents as copper, is cupric oxide.

I have no explanation for this anomaly, but the ,Thci'orcsoins'lixamples xw-md .xvr mus- 7 following Examples 1'.

2,eee,w.e

will illustrate comes only in the longer curea. 20 6 so mi;

my findings. utes, lacking the accelerating eflect of copper.

Example XXII Example XXIII Exemplexxlv Example XXV GR-S rubber 100 10-0 100 100 Plnatlclzor ,5 t5 5 5 Zlno oxide 6 5 Channel carbon blac 60 B 50 B0 Sulfur 2 2 2 2 Benzothlez ldleulphlde 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 Zinc cliethy dlthlocm-bnmate. 15 l 15 Copper powder (through 300 mesh)-.-.. 1 Oupa'lc ox I 126 Cnpmum oxide. k .116

BEFORE AGEING 007 F B '1 E S T 8 T E B '1 E 8 minutes 1140 100 1190 10 minutes 1170 110 1150 95 880 1850 111 minutes 1310 1870 110 90-0 90 1420 110 20 minutes 1110 125 1810 110 1080 100 1520 no 30 mlnut 1500 1140 125 1110 105 1410 115 ExampleXXVI Example XXVI I Example XXVHI Example XXIX Exemple XIX 100 100 100 100 100 5 5 s a a. 5 5 5 5 5 Channel car 50 60 50 50 50 Benzothlazgldlsnlsxhlde. 1. 6 1.5 1. 5 1. 5 3 1.6 Zlno diet yldlth occr- Bmse .15 .15 .15 .m j .11! 11111112. 2 2 2 2 2 Powdarec 1 Pow .1 Powders: -mnnganese. Powdemc lead. .1

BEFORE AGEING 307F. 8 '1 E B T E 8 T E 8 T E S T E 24 HOURS IN HOT AIR OVEN AT 250 F.

The foregoing Examples "1 to lllus- The metals I have tried, without. approaching trat/e the results secured wlth other metals. The my new remlte with copper, include aluxnlnum, metals used, lncludlng the copper in Example antlmony, buth, cadmium, chromium-iron, XXVII, passed e300 mesh screen. Iron was the lead, mans. mobbdenum, nickel, silicon, only metal showlnz'any marked improve-mt, silver. tin. tungsten and zinc. Copper appears and it. was effective in improving physical propto be unique. 1

Example XIXI Emplemn nm uxxnn BEFORE AGEING 335 73 1760 245 73 19f!) 240 75 30mmu0es.-- 193) 270 75 1610 215 74 1740 $5 74 The foregoing Examples to XXEII ilalthough the improvement is marked with the lustrate the comparative results using diphenylactivator.

ExampleXXXIV Example XXXV .ExampleXXXVI GR-Smbber 100 100 100 5 5 5 5 50 00 50 ulfm' ,2 2 2 Zinc dlethyldlthiocarbamat Phenylaminomethyl 2 benzothiazyl sulfide l. 75 1. 75 1. 75 Copper (through 300 mesh: 10 10 BEFORE- AGEING 307 1. s T E H s '1 E H s '1' E H fiminutes Uncured 200 330 000 40 705 2000 010 lflminutes 300 015 020 50 505 1550 040 1385 2200 41s 02 r-l5minntes 015 1070 000 50 920 1010 4'20 51 1040 m0 330 03 20110011005 2340 000 5a 1100 2230 400 59 1000 1050 010 04 bflminutas--- 1 2330 405 00 1325 2250 000 02 1080 2060 330 AFTER 2; norms IN HOT AIR ovEN AT 250 F.

Bxnhmtes--- 1000 115 74 1030 3a lflminutes 1200 130 75 1100 70 1100 110 19 15minut0a 1500 140 71 1150 110 70 1230 39 mmlnutw 1230 78 1310 1440 135 9' 301mm 1530 79 1400 140 78 1570 78 guanidine and copper with and without zinc diethyldithiooarbamate as an activator. Virtually no improvement is secured without the activator The foregoing Examplos V to m i1- lustr'ate the comparative results usinz phenylaminomethyl 2 benzothiazy} ammda and c pper with and without zinc diethyldithiocarbamate as an activator. Some improvement is secured withof Example XXXX illustrating the marked improvement attained with my invention.

' Example XLI Example XLII Example XLIII Example XLIV GR-S rubber .L 100 100 100 100 Plasticizer 5 5 6 Zinc xi 5 5 5 5 Channel carbon black 50 50 50 50 Sulfur 2 2 2 2 Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate 15 Benzothiazyl 2 monooyclohexyl sulienamide-.- 1. 75 1. 75 1. 75 1. 75 Copper diethyldithiocarbam 15 Copper (through 300 mesh) 10 BEFORE AGEING am F. s T E H s T E H s T a H s T a n 5 minumq Uncured Uncured 775 630 56 Uneured 10 minntnq 610 1900 620 63 910 530 58 1720 1970 335 63 1585 1950 350 62 16 minute: 1380 2650 460 60 1340 2320 405 62 1990 26 310 64 1880 2010 315 83 20 minnhu 1550 2610 62 1510 2150 345 63 1985 2130 310 65 202) I120 300 65 30 mimih 1835 2440 360 04 1050 2430 380 64 Z040 $180 %5 66 1970 290 67 AFTER 24 HOURS IN HOT AIR OVEN AT 250F 5 mlnni'm 1490 130 7B 10 minim: 1610 140 1330 130 78 1010 110 79 mimif" 1610 145 e 1450 135 80 1270 120 79 minni'mz 1610 145 1430 130 80 1460 136 79 minutes 1760 105 14 '125 79 160 78 outthe activator but a radical improvement is se- The foregoing Examples XLIto XLIII illustrate carbamate and copper together in the compound cured with the activator. the comparative results using benzothiazyl 2 Example XXXVII Example XXXVIII Example XXXIX Example XXXX GR-B rubber 100 100 100 Plesticizer 5 5 5 5 Zine oxide 5 5 5 5 Channel carbon black--. 50 50 50 50 Sulfur 2 2 2 2 Benzothiazgldisulfldenn 1. 50 1. 50 1. 50 l. 50 Zinc diet yldithiocarbamate 15 16 Diphenylguenidine. 25 25 Copper (through mesh) .10 .10

BEFORE AGEING 307 F. S T E H S T E H S T E H B T E H Uncured Uncured 365 1000 650 52 44 280 976 760 48 $0 890 710 48 1225 2600 475 60 48 580 2000 070 56 595 1940 635 53 1605 2680 410 63 54 905 2370 555 68 940 2820 580 58 1775 2560 386 64 58 1360 2870 610 59 1315 2860 490 62 1900 2530 366 66 5 minute: -go 10 minutes 125 81 15 mlnnteq 1m 81 20 minnhm 1m 81 30 minutea monocyclohexyl sulienamide and copper with and without zinc diethyldithlocarbamate as an activat or. Not much improvement is secured without the activator, although the improvement is marked with the activator. Comparison of Ex- .amp'le XLIII and Example XLIV illustrates the value of copper added as the metal. in Example XLIII, and as the equivalent amount of copp r diethyldithiocarba'mate, this copper salt acting both as the source of copper and as the activator, in

dlthlocarbamate as an activator upon a com- Example XLIV. pound in which cupric mercaptobenzothiazole Example xLv Example xnvr Example xL'vn Example XLVHI GB-S rubber- 100 100 100 100 .Plosticlzor..- 5 5 5 Zlnoozlde----- l5 5 5 5 Channel carbon black.-. 50 50 50 50 s 2 2 2 2 Benmthiszyl I. 50 Zinc diethyldlthlocarha .15 .15 Cu ric mercaptobenma 1.50 1.50 Mercaptobenzothlnzole 1. 50

BEFORE AGEING 307F. STEHSTEHSTEHSTEH l sminutes Uncured Uncured I Uncured l 440 1180 630 52 m1m11e0..- 100 400 no 44 220 540 000 45 05 105 740 as 1405 2000 425 01 minutes... 450 1680 750 450 1150 535 40 220 520 700 42 2000 2510 555 05 2011111111005". 685 2500 000 55 540 1050 070 5a 250 1030 535 2000 2400 340 7 BOminutes 1075' 2750 540 50 020 2500 580 57 775 2070 570 2100 2450 s25 05 Example xLIx Example L acts both as the source of copper and as the accelerator. The foregoing Examples XLIX and 9 2;33 :1 3? "2 L similarly illustrate the effect of this activator fi f ggfggg -mg 3 upon a compound in which cuprous mercapto- Sulfur 2 2 Zincdiethymmocarmapenw J5 benzothlazole acts both as the source of copper 011111-0115mercflptobenwthlazole and' as the accelerator. Examples XLV and BEFORE AGEING XLVI are given to make the comparison com- 307F. S 'I EH S TlE H plete 5 i t U 5101420610 53 The following Examples LI to LXIV illustrate 1111111 65.. I 10111101111 5 145 540 42163 2 5 3 64 the comparatlve effects of, a varlety o1 dlthio- 533E333; tgggggg 3%313213 3g carbamates and thiuram sulfides as activators, mmmums 28904185 67 each pair of examples showing the results seh m Examples mm m vn cured with one such' activator with and with illustrate the remarkable effect of zinc dlethylout added copper.

Example LI Example LII Example LIII Example LIV GR-Srubbe: 100 100 100 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 50 50 50 50 2 2 2 2 1.50 1.50 1.50 1.50 .15 .15 .15 .15 10 10 BEFORE AGEKMG 007 2. e Tiles 2051 s T E' s T E Uncmeil 225 505 570 Uncured 200 575 010 220 055 550 1440 2740 450 220 025 700 1250 2530 400 510 1570 525 1705 2000 425 400 1050 075 1710 2700 400 550 2170 545 2040 4700 575 550 2420 570 1055 2710 300 I Example LV Example LVI Example LVII Example LVIII GR-S rubber 100 100 100 100 Plasticizer-.-" 5 5 5 5 Zinc oxide 5 5 5 5 Channel carbon black 50 50 50 50 Sulfur 2 2 2 '2 Benzothlozyldisulfide l. 50 l. 50 1. 50 1. 50 v Tetmmothylthluram dlsulfide .15 15 Tetramothylthiuram monosulfide l5 15 0011920 (through 300 mesh) 10 10 BEFORE AGEENG 307%. s '1" E s T E sT E s '1 E 270 580 Unourod 005 1050 000 1700 2700 505 050 000 000 1210 2740 445 2020 2450 355 750 20-10 585 1890 2540' 000 2120 2500 520 1100- 2550 505 2 40 2500 s20 The plasticizer used in the foregoing examples was a mixture of parts by weight of a petroleum sulfonate, 5 parts of normal butyl alcohol and 80 parts of a viscous petroleum oil (currently sold under the trade-name Reogen).

The dithiocarbamates useful in carrying out my invention include zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dlbutyldlthiocarbamate, lead .dimethyldithiocarbamate, lead diethyldithiocarbamate, selenium diethyldithiocarbamate, tellurium diethyldithiocarbamate, andsodium diethyldithiocarbamate. The thiuram sulfides useful in carrying out my invention include the tetraalkylthiuram monosulfides and disulfides. The thiazole accelerators usefulin carrying out my invention include the mixed alkyl thiazyl disulfides, mercaptobenzothiazole, benzothiazyldisulflde, zinc benzothiazyl sulfide, dinitrophenylbenzothiazyl sulfide, aminated esters of mercaptobenzothiazole including phenylaminomethyl 2 benzothiazyl sulfide, benzoyl 2 benzothiazyl sulfide, benzyl hexamethylene tetrammonium 2 benzothiazyl sulfide and benzothiazyl 2 monocyclohexyl sulfenamlde.

In carrying out my invention, the copper, or its equivalent compound, may be incorporated in the copolymer of butadiene'and styrene before other compounding materials are added to produce a modified copolymer product exhibiting much less variability than currently available GR-S rubber when compounded and subjected to vulcanization in accordance with my invention. Also, in carrying out. my invention, the

copper, or its equivalent compound, may be incorporated in the copolymer compound with other compounding materials, as in conventional practice, prior to vulcanization. The proportion of Example LIX Example LX Example LXI Example LXI! GR-S rubber 100 100 ion Plastlcizer 5 5 5 5 Zinc oxide 5 5 5 5 Channel carbon bla 5g 5g 5g 5g Benzotl i ia zyld lsn lii d e 1. to 1.50 1.50 1.50 Lead dimethyldlthiocarbamate 15 15 Lead dlethyldithiocarbamat 15 15 Copper (through 300 mesh) r 10 10 BEFORE AGEING 307 1. e 'r n s "r E a 'r n s 'r E Uncured Uncured 505 1440 545 1165 2180 can can 590 1460 2710 450 1520 2040 490 2070 see 1825 2940 425 1170 2660 too 1150 2680 52a 1905 2320 33s sulfur used is not critical-and may follow con- Emmvlemm mmvlflLxlv yentional practices providing it is added to the compound subjected to vulcanization in amount g g g g g exceeding that required to combine with the Zinc oxidc::::::- I a 5 added copper to form cupric sulfide. gtllinannel carbon blac 53 5(2) '1 claim:

ur Benzothiezyldlsulllde 1.50 1.50 l. Theproduct obtained upon vulcanization of gm j ffff'f ffi fff; J5 a, rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene Copper thmughaoomeah .10 containing 'a material of the class consisting of w metallic co r and compounds of copper effec- BEFOBE A EIN tive to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer, in excess of 50% by weight on the B T E 5 E copper (calculated'as copper) of sulfur and about 0.1-1%'=by weight on the copolymer of a'com- 5mim1tes g g g; 3 2% 35 poundoi the class consisting ofthiuram sulfides 15 minutes 760 m 565 2030 2375 325 and dithiocarbamates eflective as sulfur vulcanimmmu'ies 460 2425 zation accelerators, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than. about 0.005% nor more than about 1% by weight on the copolymer.

2. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material ofthe class consisting of metallic copper andcompounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur-vulcanization of the copolymenin excess of 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur, about 0.5- 2.5% by weight on the copolymer of a. thiazole accelerator, andabout (Ll-1% by weight on the copolymer of a compound of the class consistin of thiuram sulfides and dithiocarbamates effective as sulfur vulcanization accelerators, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0 005% nor more than about 1% by weight on the copolymer.

3. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copclymer, in excess or. 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about 0.14% by weight on the copolymer of a zinc dialkyldithiocarbamate, the total amount of cmper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.005% nor more than about 1% by weight on the copolymer.

4. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-likecopolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer. in excess of 50% by weight on the cop-' per (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about 0.14% by weight on the copolymer of thiuram sulfide effective as a sulfur vulcanization accelerator, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.005% nor more than about by weight on thecopolymer.

6. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer, in excess of 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about 0.1-1 by weight on the copolymer of a compound of the class consisting of thiuram sulfides and dithiocarbamates effective as sulfur vulcanization accelerators, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper), present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.01% nor more than about 0.5% by weight on the copolymer.

7 The product obtainedupon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper eifective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanizationof the copolymer, in' excess of 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur, about 05-25% by weight on the copolymer of a thiazole accelerator and about 0.1-1% by weight on the copolymer of. a compound of the class consisting of thiuram sulfides and dithiocarbamates effective as sulfur 'vulcanization accelerators, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.01%

nor more than about 0.5% by weight on the copolymer.

8. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper eflec-r tive to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer, in excess of 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about 0.1-l% by weight on the copolymer of a zinc dialkyldithiocarbamate, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer' being not less than about 0.01% nor more than about 0.5% by weight on the copolymer.

9. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer, in excess of by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about 0.1-'-1% by weight on the copolymer of a lead dialkyldlthiocarbamate, the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.01% nor more than about 0.5% by weight on the copolymer.

10. The product obtained upon vulcanization of a rubber-like copolymer of butadiene and styrene containing a material of the class consisting of metallic copper and compounds of copper effective to accelerate the sulfur vulcanization of the copolymer, in excess of 50% by weight on the copper (calculated as copper) of sulfur and about OJ-1% by weight on the copolymer of a thiuram sulfide effective as a sulfur vulcanization accelerator', the total amount of copper (calculated as copper) present in the copolymer being not less than about 0.01% nor more than about 0.5% by weight on the copolymer. ALBERT A. SOMERVIILE. 

